As we embark on a new year, it’s always fun to look back at the accomplishments of the previous year. During the 2018-2019 school year our students and staff were empowered to embody the District mission of becoming self-directed learners, collaborative workers, complex thinkers, quality producers and community contributors.
One of the ways we do this is through our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) where we prepare students for academic and social-emotional development for college and career readiness. Through a student-centered approach, all students achieve core curriculum, social emotional and academic supports, and have access to intervention, extension, and acceleration. Schools initiate this through school-based teams that collaborate to review academic and social emotional data, plan instruction, and design intervention and extension for students. MTSS was a topic of our Focus 203 in November 2018 and will continue to be discussed through coming years as we look at more ways we can reach our students where they are at academically and social-emotionally.
As mentioned, Naperville 203 hosted a Focus 203 on MTSS this past year, as well as a State of the District in September where I shared points of pride, updated demographic and financial information, as well as key initiatives from our Focus 2020 Strategic Blueprint. In March, our Focus 203 highlighted five unique programming and service areas that some in our community may not be aware existed including our early childhood initiative, dual-language, gifted and academically talented, alternative learning opportunities program, and Connections. Finally, in April, our new Executive Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Rakeda Leaks, presented WHY there is a focus on Diversity & Inclusion in Naperville 203 and what the District is doing to address achievement gaps and inequities through priorities and initiatives to better serve our diverse community. These sessions engage our community in meaningful dialogue and discussion on topics of mutual interest to generate ideas and suggestions that ultimately strengthen our learning community.
Our outstanding students and staff continue to strive for success in and out of the classroom.
46 NCHS and NNHS seniors were named 2018 National Merit Scholarship finalists, and nine seniors received the 2018-19 National Hispanic Recognition Program Award. Naperville 203 was placed on the College Board’s Annual AP® District Honor Roll - one of 373 districts in the U.S. and Canada honored. Naperville North High School was honored as a 2018 Blue Ribbon School for being one of the state’s highest performing schools.
Both NCHS and NNHS students were successful on and off the field bringing home state championships including NCHS Boys Water Polo, NCHS Debate Team, NNHS Girls Cross Country, NNHS Boys Soccer, NNHS Math Team, NNHS E-Sports, NNHS Girls Badminton, NNHS Dance Team, NNHS Science Bowl, NNHS Table Tennis, NNHS Girls Soccer and NNHS Speech.
Not to be outdone by their high school counterparts students in all grades are achieving their personal best including a 7th and 8th grader at Kennedy Junior High School who were awarded the MathCON National Championship. 5th grade Mission Makers from Elmwood who gave up recess each week to go through the lost and found and return missing items to students. A Madison Junior High Student won first place in the Illinois State Geography Bee who went on to place in the top ten nationally. This list could go on and on! We have exemplary students in Naperville 203!
I look forward to another wonderful school year in 2019-2020 and cannot wait to see what the students in Naperville 203 will do next! Everyday they embody the District’s mission and with the support of our teachers, they will continue to set new goals and achieve their dreams.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to education and our students.
Dan Bridges
Superintendent of Schools
